Non-metal catalyzed room temperature moisture curable organopolysiloxane compositions

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides curable compositions that are free of metal catalysts including both tin and non-tin metal catalysts. The curable compositions employ a catalyst comprising curable polymers having reactive terminal silyl groups. In particular, a silylated carboxylic acid is an alternative to organotin or other metal catalysts. In addition, the catalyst may be used with an amino-containing adhesion promoter or a mixture of amine-containing adhesion promoters and an amino-containing siloxane. The combination of these materials accelerates the condensation curing of moisture curable silicones/non-silicones even in the absence of a metal-based catalyst.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/821,744 filed May 10, 2013, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD

The present invention relates to curable compositions comprising curable oligomer/polymers having reactive silyl groups. In particular, the present invention provides curable compositions comprising a metal-free catalyst including a silylated carboxylic acid as an alternative to organotin or other metal catalysts.

BACKGROUND

Polymers having reactive silyl groups or compositions comprising such polymers can be hydrolyzed and condensed in the presence of water and organometal catalysts. Suitable known catalysts for curable compositions include organometallic compounds employing metals such as Sn, Ti, Zn or Ca. Organotin compounds such as, for example, dibutyltin dilaurate (DBTDL) are widely used as condensation cure catalysts to accelerate the moisture assisted curing of a number of different polyorganosiloxanes and non-silicone polymers having reactive terminal silyl groups such as room temperature vulcanizing (RTV) formulations including RTV-1 and RTV-2 formulations. Environmental regulatory agencies and directives, however, have increased or are expected to increase restrictions on the use of organotin compounds in formulated products. For example, while formulations with greater than 0.5 wt. % dibutyltin presently require labeling as toxic with reproductive 1B classification, dibutyltin-containing formulations are proposed to be completely phased out in consumer applications during the next 4-6 years.

Alternative organotin compounds such as dioctyltin compounds and dimethyltin compounds can only be considered as a short-term remedial plan, as these organotin compounds may also be regulated in the future. As alternatives to tin catalysts, efforts have been made to identify non-Sn metal-based catalysts that accelerate the condensation curing of moisture curable silicones and non-silicones. Desirably, substitutes for organotin catalysts should exhibit properties similar to organotin compounds in terms of curing, storage, and appearance. Non-tin catalysts would also desirably initiate the condensation reaction of the selected polymers and complete this reaction upon the surface and may be in the bulk in a desired time schedule. There are therefore many proposals for the replacement of organometallic tin compounds by other organometallic compounds. These compounds comprise metals such as Ca, Ce, Bi, Fe, Mo, Mn, Pb, Ti, V, Zn and Y. All of these metals have specific advantages and disadvantages in view of replacing tin compounds perfectly. Therefore, there is still a need to overcome some of the weaknesses of possible metal compounds as suitable catalyst for condensation cure reaction including the behavior of uncured and cured compositions to maintain the ability to adhere onto the surface of several substrates. Another problem necessary to be solved in the replacement of organo-tin compounds is for the reactive composition to maintain its ability to cure (when exposed to humidity or ambient air) after storage in a sealed cartridge.

The cure chemistry of these moisture-curable compositions can vary based upon the nature of the polymers and their moisture-curable groups. For example, alkoxysilyl groups first hydrolyze to give silanol functionalities, which then condense with the extrusion of water to give the siloxane network. Such compositions typically comprise an alkoxysilyl- or silanol-functional polymer and a crosslinking agent. Tri- and tetraalkoxysilanes are commonly used as crosslinking agents and will react with water or directly with silanol groups to crosslink the system. However, for compositions comprising hydridosilyl groups or both hydridosilyl and silanol functionalities, such a crosslinking agent is not required. In fact, due to the multitude of hydridosilyl groups present, the hydridosilyl-containing compound is often referred to as the crosslinking agent. In these compositions, hydridosilyl groups may react with water to give silanol functionalities or they may react directly with silanol groups to form siloxane bonds with extrusion of hydrogen gas. For transition-metal-catalyzed compositions comprising a hydridosilyl-containing compound, inhibitors are commonly used to ensure adequate shelf life or pot life.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides tin-free, curable compositions comprising silyl-terminated polymers and a non-toxic condensation catalyst. In particular, the present invention provides curable compositions employing a catalyst comprising a silylated carboxylic acid. In one embodiment, the composition is substantially free of a metal or organometal catalyst complex.

In one aspect, the invention provides a curable composition exhibiting a relatively short tack-free time, curing through the bulk, as well as long storage stability in the cartridge, i.e., in the absence of humidity. Compositions employing the silylated carboxylic acid compounds in combination with certain adhesion promoter components exhibit good curing behavior and can exhibit curing behavior similar to or even better than organotin compounds. Therefore, these materials are suitable as replacements for organotin or other metal-based catalysts in compositions having a reactive, silylated-polymer that can undergo condensation reactions such as in RTV-1 sealant and RTV-2 formulations. Specifically, the inventors have found that silylated carboxylic acid compounds in combination with amino-containing silane/siloxane compounds (which may be used as adhesion promoters) act to catalyze the curing of organopolysiloxane compositions.

In one aspect, the present invention provides a curable composition comprising a moisture curable composition comprising a polymer component (A) comprising a reactive silyl group; a cross-linker component (B); a silylated carboxylic acid component (C); an amino-containing silane adhesion promoter or a mixture of amino-containing silane adhesion promoters (D); and an optional organic amine or amino-containing silane/siloxane (E). In one aspect, the composition is free of a metal or metal-based catalyst component.

In one aspect, the present invention provides a composition for forming a cured polymer composition comprising (A) a polymer having at least a reactive silylgroup; (B) a crosslinker or chain extender chosen from an alkoxysilane, an alkoxysiloxane, an oximosilane, an oximosiloxane, an enoxysilane, an enoxysiloxane, an aminosilane, a carboxysilane, a carboxysiloxane, an alkylamidosilane, an alkylamidosiloxane, an arylamidosilane, an arylamidosiloxane, an alkoxyaminosilane, an alkaryaminosiloxane, an alkoxycarbamatosilane, an alkoxycarbamatosiloxane, and combinations of two or more thereof; (C) about 0.01-7 parts per weight per 100 parts per weight of the polymer (A) of a silylated carboxylic acid; (D) at least one adhesion promoter other than the compounds listed under (B); and (E) an organic amine or amino-functional silane/siloxane.

In another aspect, the polymer (A) has the formula: [R¹ _(a)R² _(3-a) Si—Z—]_(n)—X—Z—SiR¹ _(a)R² _(3-a). In another embodiment, X is chosen from a polyurethane; a polyester; a polyether; a polycarbonate; a polyolefin; a polypropylene; a polyesterether; and a polyorganosiloxane having units of R₃SiO_(1/2), R₂SiO, RSiO_(3/2), and/or SiO_(4/2), n is 0 to 100, a is 0 to 2, R and R¹ can be identical or different at the same Si-atom and chosen from a C₁-C₁₀-alkyl; a C₁-C₁₀ alkyl substituted with one or more of Cl, F, N, O or S; a phenyl; a C₇-C₁₆ alkylaryl; a C₇-C₁₆ arylalkyl; a C₂-C₄ polyalkylene ether; or a combination of two or more thereof. In yet another aspect, R² is chosen from OH, a C₁-C₈-alkoxy, a C₂-C₁₈-alkoxyalkyl, an oximoalkyl, an enoxyalkyl, an aminoalkyl, a carboxyalkyl, an amidoalkyl, an amidoaryl, a carbamatoalkyl, or a combination of two or more thereof, and Z is a bond, a divalent unit selected from the group of a C₁-C₈ alkylene, or O.

According to one embodiment, the crosslinker component (B) is chosen from tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS), a polycondensate of TEOS, methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS), vinyl-trimethoxysilane, methylvinyldimethoxysilane, dimethyldiethoxysilane, vinyltriethoxysilane, tetra-n-propylorthosilicate, vinyltris(methylethylketoxime)silane, methyltris(methylethylketoxime)silane, trisacetamidomethylsilane, bisacetamidodimethylsilane, tris(N-methyl-acetamido)methylsilane, bis(N-methylacetamido)dimethylsilane, (N-methyl-acetamido)methyldialkoxysilane, trisbenzamidomethylsilane, trispropenoxymethylsilane, alkyldialkoxyamidosilanes, alkylalkoxybisamidosilanes, CH₃Si(OC₂H₅)₁₋₂(NHCOR)₂₋₁, (CH₃Si(OC₂H₅)(NCH₃COC₆H₅)₂, CH₃Si(OC₂H₅)—(NHCOC₆H₅)₂, methyldimethoxy(ethylmethylketoximo)silane; methylmethoxybis-(ethylmethylketoximo)silane; methyldimethoxy(acetaldoximo)silane; methyldimethoxy(N-methylcarbamato)silane; ethyldimethoxy(N-methylcarbamato)silane; methyldimethoxyisopropenoxysilane; trimethoxyisopropenoxysilane; methyltri-iso-propenoxysilane; methyldimethoxy(but-2-ene-2-oxy)silane; methyldimethoxy(1-phenylethenoxy)silane; methyldimethoxy-2(1-carboethoxypropenoxy)silane; methylmethoxydi-N-methylaminosilane; vinyldimethoxymethylaminosilane; tetra-N,N-diethylaminosilane; methyldimethoxymethylaminosilane; methyltricyclohexylaminosilane; methyldimethoxyethylaminosilane; dimethyldi-N,N-dimethylaminosilane; methyldimethoxyisopropylaminosilane dimethyldi-N,N-diethylaminosilane; ethyldimethoxy(N-ethylpropionamido)silane; methyldimethoxy(N-methylacetamido)silane; methyltris(N-methylacetamido)silane; ethyldimethoxy(N-methylacetamido)silane; methyltris(N-methylbenzamido)silane; methylmethoxybis(N-methylacetamido)silane; methyldimethoxy(caprolactamo)silane; trimethoxy(N-methylacetamido)silane; methyldimethoxyethylacetimidatosilane; methyldimethoxypropylacetimidatosilane; methyldimethoxy(N,N′,N′-trimethylureido)silane; methyldimethoxy(N-allyl-N′,N′-dimethylureido)silane; methyldimethoxy(N-phenyl-N′,N′-dimethylureido)silane; methyldimethoxyisocyanatosilane; dimethoxydiisocyanatosilane; methyldimethoxythioisocyanatosilane; methylmethoxydithioisocyanatosilane, or a combination of two or more thereof.

According to one embodiment, the amino-containing adhesion promoter component (D) is chosen from an aminoalkyltrialkoxysilane, an aminoalkylalkyldialkoxysilane, a bis(alkyltrialkoxysilyl)amine, a tris(alkyltrialkoxysilyl)amine, oligomers of one or more thereof, or a combination of two or more thereof.

According to one embodiment, the composition comprises about 0.1 to about 10 pt. wt. of the crosslinker component (B) based on 100 pt. wt. of the polymer component (A).

According to one embodiment, the crosslinker component (B) is chosen from a silane or a siloxane, the silane or siloxane having two or more reactive groups that can undergo hydrolysis and/or condensation reaction with polymer (A) or on its own in the presence of water and component (F).

According to one embodiment, the polymer component (A) is chosen from a polyorganosiloxane comprising divalent units of the formula [R₂SiO] in the backbone, wherein R is chosen from a C₁-C₁₀-alkyl; a C₁-C₁₀ alkyl substituted with one or more of Cl, F, N, O or S; a phenyl; a C₇-C₁₆ alkylaryl; a C₇-C₁₆ arylalkyl; a C₂-C₄ polyalkylene ether; or a combination of two or more thereof.

According to one embodiment, the polymer component (A) has the formula: R² _(3-a)R¹ _(a)Si—Z—[R₂SiO]_(x)[R¹ ₂SiO]_(y)—Z—SiR¹ _(a)R² _(3-a) whereby x is 0 to 10000; y is 0 to 1000; a is 0 to 2; R is methyl. In another aspect, R¹ is chosen from a C₁-C₁₀-alkyl; a C₁-C₁₀ alkyl substituted with one or more of Cl, F, N, O or S; a phenyl; a C₇-C₁₆ alkylaryl; a C₇-C₁₆ arylalkyl; a C₂-C₄ polyalkylene ether; or a combination of two or more thereof, and other siloxane units may be present in amounts less than 10 mol. % preferably methyl, vinyl, phenyl. In yet another embodiment, R² is chosen from OH, a C₁-C₈-alkoxy, a C₂-C₁₈-alkoxyalkyl, an oximoalkyl, an enoxyalkyl, an aminoalkyl, a carboxyalkyl, an amidoalkyl, an amidoaryl, a carbamatoalkyl, or a combination of two or more thereof, and Z is —O—, bond, or —C₂H₄—.

According to one embodiment, the composition is provided as a one part composition.

According to one embodiment, the composition comprises 100 pt. wt. of component (A), 0.1 to about 10 pt. wt. of at least one crosslinker (B), 0.01 to about 7 pt. wt. of a silylated carboxylic acid component (C), 0.1 to about 5 pt. wt. of an amino-containing adhesion promoter or a mixture of amino-containing adhesion promoters (D), 0 to 5 pt. wt. of an amino-functional siloxane (E), and 0 to about 300 pt. wt. of component (F), whereby this composition can be stored in the absence of humidity and is curable in the presence of humidity upon exposure to ambient air.

According to one embodiment, the composition is a two-part composition comprising: (i) a first portion comprising the polymer component (A), and optionally the filler component (G); and (ii) a second portion comprising the crosslinker (B), the silylated carboxylic acid component (C), a amino-containing adhesion promoter or a mixture of amino-containing adhesion promoters (D), and an amino-functional siloxane (E), whereby (i) and (ii) are stored separately until applied for curing by mixing of the components (i) and (ii).

According to one embodiment, portion (i) comprises 100% wt. of component (A), and 0 to 70 pt. wt. of component (F); and portion (ii) comprises 0.1 to 10 pt. wt. of at least one crosslinker (B), 0.01 to 7 pt. wt. of a silylated carboxylic acid component (C), 0 to 5 pt. wt. of an amino-containing adhesion promoter or a mixture of amino-containing adhesion promoters (D), and an amino-functional siloxane (E).

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of providing a cured material comprising exposing the composition to ambient air.

According to one embodiment, a method of providing a cured material comprises combining the first portion and the second portion and curing the mixture.

According to one embodiment, the composition is stored in a sealed cartridge or flexible bag having outlet nozzles for extrusion and/or shaping of the uncured composition prior to cure.

In still another aspect, the present invention provides a cured polymer material formed from the composition.

In another aspect, the present invention provides composition curable via dehydrogenative condensation comprising a polymer comprising one or more hydridosilyl groups; a polymer comprising one or more silanol groups; and a catalyst composition comprising a silylated carboxylic acid compound. The present invention also provides materials formed by curing such compositions.

According to one embodiment, the cured polymer material is in the form of an elastomeric or duromeric seal, an adhesive, a coating, an encapsulant, a shaped article, a mold, and an impression material.

The compositions are found to exhibit good storage stability and adhere to a variety of surfaces. In one embodiment, the curable compositions exhibit excellent adherence to thermoplastic surfaces.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention provides a curable composition employing a non-metal based catalyst system. The curable compositions employ a catalyst comprising a silylated carboxylic acid component. The silylated carboxylic acid component can be used with various cross-linkers and adhesion promoters to provide a composition exhibiting good curing properties, even curing similar or superior to compositions employing organotin compounds such as DBTDL or other metal-based catalysts in terms of accelerating moisture assisted condensation curing of silicones to result in cross-linked silicones. The compositions can be used as sealants and RTVs (Room-Temperature Vulcanized Rubber). The non-toxic nature of these materials makes them more attractive and practical than organotin catalysts, given the forthcoming strict regulations on organotin catalysts.

The present invention provides a curable composition comprising a polymer component (A) comprising a reactive terminal silyl group, a cross-linker component (B), a silylated carboxylic acid component (C), and an adhesion promoter component (D). The combination of the silylated carboxylic acid catalyst component and the adhesion promoter is effective in curing of the composition upon exposure to ambient air conditions. The use of silylated carboxylic acid has been found to function as a catalyst in the absence of a metal-based catalyst such as organotin or other metal complexes that are typically used in such compositions. Thus, in one aspect, the compositions are substantially free of a metal or metal-based catalyst component as are used in moisture curable compositions. As used herein, a composition is considered to be substantially free of a metal catalyst or metal based-catalyst if it contains 0.001 pt. wt. or less of a metal catalyst or metal-based catalyst. The compositions may further include other optional components such as, for example, an amino-functional siloxane (E), a filler component (F), and/or auxiliary components (G).

The polymer component (A) may be a liquid or solid-based polymer having a reactive terminal silyl group. The polymer component (A) is not particularly limited and may be chosen from any cross-linkable polymer as may be desired for a particular purpose or intended use. Non-limiting examples of suitable polymers for the polymer component (A) include polyorganosiloxanes (A1) or organic polymers free of siloxane bonds (A2), wherein the polymers (A1) and (A2) comprise reactive terminal silyl groups. In one embodiment, the polymer component (A) may be present in an amount of from about 10 to about 90 wt. % of the curable composition. In one embodiment, the curable composition comprises about 100 pt. wt. of the polymer component (A).

As described above, the polymer component (A) may include a wide range of polyorganosiloxanes. In one embodiment, the polymer component may comprise one or more polysiloxanes and copolymers of formula (2):

[R¹ _(a)R² _(3-a)Si—Z—]_(n)—X—Z—SiR¹ _(a)R² _(3-a)  (2)

R¹ may be chosen from saturated C₁-C₁₂ alkyl (which can be substituted with one or more of a halogen (e.g., Cl, F, O, S or N atom), C₅-C₁₆ cycloalkyl, C₂-C₁₂ alkenyl, C₇-C₁₆ arylalkyl, C₇-C₁₆ alkylaryl, phenyl, C₂-C₄ polyalkylene ether, or a combination of two or more thereof. Exemplary preferred groups are methyl, trifluoropropyl and/or phenyl groups.

R² may be a group reactive to protonated agents such as water and may be chosen from OH, C₁-C₈-alkoxy, C₂-C₁₈-alkoxyalkyl, amino, alkenyloxy, oximoalkyl, enoxyalkyl, aminoalkyl, carboxyalkyl, amidoalkyl, amidoaryl, carbamatoalkyl or a combination of two or more thereof. Exemplary groups for R² include OH, alkoxy, alkenyloxy, alkyloximo, alkylcarboxy, alkylamido, arylamido, or a combination of two or more thereof.

Z may be a bond, a divalent linking unit selected from the group of O_(1/2), hydrocarbons which can contain one or more O, S or N atom, amide, urethane, ether, ester, urea units or a combination of two or more thereof. If the linking group Z is a hydrocarbon group then Z is linked to the silicon atom over a SiC bond. In one embodiment Z is chosen from a C₁-C₁₄ alkylene.

X is chosen from a polyurethane; a polyester; a polyether; a polycarbonate; a polyolefin; a polypropylene; a polyesterether; and a polyorganosiloxane having units of R₃SiO_(1/2), R₂SiO, RSiO_(3/2), and/or SiO_(4/2), where R is chosen from a C₁-C₁₀-alkyl; a C₁-C₁₀ alkyl substituted with one or more of Cl, F, N, O or S; a phenyl; a C₇-C₁₆ alkylaryl; a C₇-C₁₆ arylalkyl; a C₂-C₄ polyalkylene ether; or a combination of two or more thereof X may be a divalent or multivalent polymer unit selected from the group of siloxy units linked over oxygen or hydrocarbon groups to the terminal silyl group comprising the reactive group R² as described above, polyether, alkylene, isoalkylene, polyester or polyurethane units linked over hydrocarbon groups to the silicon atom comprising one or more reactive groups R² as described above. The hydrocarbon group X can contain one or more heteroatoms such as N, S, O or P forming amides, esters, ethers urethanes, esters, ureas. In one embodiment, the average polymerization degree (P_(n)) of X should be more than 6, e.g. polyorganosiloxane units of R₃SiO_(1/2), R₂SiO, RSiO_(3/2), and/or SiO_(4/2). In formula (2), n is 0-100; desirably 1, and a is 0-2, desirably 0-1.

Non-limiting examples of the components for unit X include polyoxyalkylene polymers such as polyoxyethylene, polyoxypropylene, polyoxybutylene, polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene copolymer, polyoxytetramethylene, or polyoxypropylene-polyoxybutylene copolymer; ethylene-propylene copolymer, polyisobutylene, polychloroprene, polyisoprene, polybutadiene, copolymer of isobutylene and isoprene, copolymers of isoprene or butadiene and acrylonitrile and/or styrene, or hydrocarbon polymer such as hydrogenated polyolefin polymers produced by hydrogenating these polyolefin polymers; polyester polymer manufactured by a condensation of dibasic acid such as adipic acid or phthalic acid and glycol, polycarbonates, or ring-opening polymerization of lactones; polyacrylic acid ester produced by radical polymerization of a monomer such as C₂-C₈-alkyl acrylates, vinyl polymers, e.g., acrylic acid ester copolymer of acrylic acid ester such as ethyl acrylate or butyl acrylate and vinyl acetate, acrylonitrile, methyl methacrylate, acrylamide or styrene; graft polymer produced by polymerizing the above organic polymer with a vinyl monomer; polysulfide polymer; polyamide polymer such as Nylon 6 produced by ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactam, Nylon 6.6 produced by polycondensation of hexamethylenediamine and adipic acid, etc., Nylon 12 produced by ring-opening polymerization of ε-aminolauro-lactam, copolymeric polyamides, polyurethanes, or polyureas.

Particularly suitable polymers include, but are not limited to, polysiloxanes, polyoxyalkylenes, saturated hydrocarbon polymers such as polyisobutylene, hydrogenated polybutadiene and hydrogenated polyisoprene, or polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, polycarbonates, polyurethanes, polyurea polymers and the like. Furthermore, saturated hydrocarbon polymer, polyoxyalkylene polymer and vinyl copolymer are particularly suitable due to their low glass transition temperature which provide a high flexibility at low temperatures, i.e. below 0° C.

The reactive silyl groups in formula (2) can be introduced by employing silanes containing a functional group which has the ability to react by known methods with unsaturated hydrocarbons via hydrosilylation, or reaction of SiOH, aminoalkyl, HOOC-alkyl, HO-alkyl or HO-aryl, HS-alkyl or -aryl, Cl(O)C-alkyl or -aryl, epoxyalkyl or epoxycycloalkyl groups in the prepolymer to be linked to a reactive silyl group via condensation or ring-opening reactions. Examples of the main embodiments include the following:

(i) siloxane prepolymers having a SiOH group that can undergo a condensation reaction with a silane (L-group) SiR¹ _(a)R² _(3-a) whereby a siloxy bond ≡Si—O—SiR¹ _(a)R² _(3-a) is formed while the addition product of the leaving group (L-group) and hydrogen is released (L-group+H); (ii) silanes having an unsaturated group that is capable of reacting via a hydrosilylation or a radical reaction with a SiH group or radically activated groups of a silane such as SiH or an unsaturated group; and (iii) silanes including organic or inorganic prepolymers having OH, SH, amino, epoxy, —COCl, —COOH groups, which can react complementarily with epoxy, isocyanato, OH, SH, cyanato, carboxylic halogenides, reactive alkylhalogenides, lactones, lactams, or amines, that is to link the reactive prepolymer with the organofunctional silanes to yield a silyl functional polymer.

Silanes suitable for method (i) include alkoxysilanes, especially tetraalkoxysilanes, di- and trialkoxysilanes, di- and triacetoxysilanes, di- and triketoximato-silanes, di- and trialkenyloxysilanes, di- and tricarbonamidosilanes, wherein the remaining residues at the silicon atom of the silane are substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbons. Other non-limiting silanes for method (i) include alkyltrialkoxysilanes, such as vinyltrimethoxysilane, methyltrimethoxysilane, propyltrimethoxysilane aminoalkyltrimethoxysilane, ethyltriacetoxysilane, methyl- or propyltriacetoxysilane, methyltributanonoximosilane, methyltripropenyloxysilane, methyltribenzamidosilane, or methyltriacetamidosilane. Prepolymers suitable for reaction under method (i) are SiOH-terminated polyalkylsiloxanes, which can undergo a condensation reaction with a silane having hydrolysable groups attached to the silicon atom. Exemplary SiOH-terminated polyalkydisiloxanes include polydimethylsilaxanes.

Suitable silanes for method (ii) include alkoxysilanes, especially trialkoxysilanes (HSi(OR)₃) such as trimethoxysilane, triethoxysilane, methyldiethoxysilane, methyldimethoxysilane, and phenyldimethoxysilane; methyldiacetoxysilane and phenyldiacetoxysilane. Hydrogenchlorosilanes are in principle possible but are less desirable due to the additional replacement of the halogen through an alkoxy, acetyoxy group, etc. Other suitable silanes include organofunctional silanes having unsaturated groups which can be activated by radicals, such as vinyl, allyl, mercaptoalkyl or acrylic groups. Non-limiting examples include vinyltrimethoxysilane, mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane, methyacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane. Prepolymers suitable for reaction under method (ii) include vinyl terminated polyalkylsiloxanes, preferably polydimethylsiloxanes, hydrocarbons with unsaturated groups which can undergo hydrosilylation or can undergo radically induced grafting reactions with a corresponding organofunctional group of a silane comprising an e.g. unsaturated hydrocarbon or a —SiH group.

Another method for introducing silyl groups into hydrocarbon polymers can be the copolymerization of unsaturated hydrocarbon monomers with the unsaturated groups of silanes. The introduction of unsaturated groups into a hydrocarbon prepolymer may include, for example, the use of alkenyl halogenides as chain stopper after polymerization of the silicon free hydrocarbon moiety.

Desirable reaction products between the silanes and prepolymers include the following structures:

—SiR₂O—SiR₂—CH₂—CH₂—SiR¹ _(a)R² _(3-a), or (hydrocarbon)-[Z—SiR¹ _(a)R² _(3-a)]₁₋₅₀

Suitable silanes for method (iii) include, but are not limited to, alkoxysilanes, especially silanes having organofunctional groups to be reactive to —OH, —SH, amino, epoxy, —COCl, or —COOH.

In one embodiment, these silanes have an isocyanatoalkyl group such as gamma-isocyanatopropyltrimethoxysilane, gamma-isocyanatopropylmethyldimethoxysilane, gamma-isocyanatopropyltriethoxysilane, gamma-glycidoxypropylethyldimethoxysilane, gamma-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane, gamma-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane, gamma-(3,4-epoxycyclohexyl)ethyltrimethoxysilane, epoxylimonyltrimethoxysilane, N-(2-aminoethyl)-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane gamma-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, gamma-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, gamma-aminopropylmethyldimethoxysilane, gamma-aminopropylmethyldiethoxysilane and the like.

In one embodiment, it is desirable to select either blocked amines or isocyanates (Z′—X)_(n)—Z′ for carrying out first a complete mixing and then the following coupling reaction. Examples of blocking agents are disclosed in EP 0947531 and other blocking procedures that employ heterocyclic nitrogen compounds such as caprolactam or butanone oxime, or cyclic ketones referred to in U.S. Pat. No. 6,827,875 both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Examples of suitable prepolymers for a reaction under method (iii) include, but are not limited to, polyalkylene oxides having OH groups, preferably with a high molecular weight (Mw) (weight average molecular weight >6000 g/mol) and a polydispersity Mw/Mn of less than 1.6; urethanes having remaining NCO groups, such as NCO functionalized polyalkylene oxides, especially blocked isocyanates. Prepolymers selected from the group of hydrocarbons having —OH, —COOH, amino, epoxy groups, which can react complementarily with an epoxy, isocyanato, amino, carboxyhalogenide or halogenalkyl group of the corresponding silane having further reactive groups useful for the final cure.

Suitable isocyanates for the introduction of a NCO group into a polyether may include tolulene diisocyanate, diphenylmethane diisocyanate, or xylene diisocyanate, or aliphatic polyisocyanate such as isophorone diisocyanate, or hexamethylene diisocyanate.

The polymerization degree of the unit X depends on the requirements of viscosity and mechanical properties of the cured product. If X is a polydimethylsiloxane unit, the average polymerization degree based on the number average molecular weight Mn is preferably 7 to 5000 siloxy units, preferably 200-2000 units. In order to achieve a sufficient tensile strength of >5 MPa, an average polymerization degree Pn of >250 is suitable whereby the polydimethylsiloxanes have a viscosity of more than 1000 mPa·s at 25° C. If X is a hydrocarbon unit other than a polysiloxane unit the viscosity with respect to the polymerization degree is much higher.

Examples of the method for synthesizing a polyoxyalkylene polymer include, but are not limited to, a polymerization method using an alkali catalyst such as KOH, a polymerization method using a transition metal compound porphyrin complex catalyst such as complex obtained by reacting an organoaluminum compound, a polymerization method using a composite metal cyanide complex catalyst disclosed, e.g., in U.S. Pat. No. 3,427,256; U.S. Pat. No. 3,427,334; U.S. Pat. No. 3,278,457; U.S. Pat. No. 3,278,458; U.S. Pat. No. 3,278,459; U.S. Pat. No. 3,427,335; U.S. Pat. No. 6,696,383; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,919,293.

If the group X is selected from hydrocarbon polymers, then polymers or copolymers having isobutylene units are particularly desirable due to its physical properties such as excellent weatherability, excellent heat resistance, and low gas and moisture permeability.

Examples of the monomers include olefins having 4 to 12 carbon atoms, vinyl ether, aromatic vinyl compound, vinylsilanes, and allylsilanes. Examples of the copolymer component include 1-butene, 2-butene, 2-methyl-1-butene, 3-methyl-1-butene, pentene, 4-methyl-1-pentene, hexene, vinylcyclohexene, methyl vinyl ether, ethyl vinyl ether, isobutyl vinyl ether, styrene, α-methylstyrene, dimethylstyrene, β-pinene, indene, and for example but not limited to vinyltrialkoxysilanes, e.g. vinyltrimethoxysilane, vinylmethyldichlorosilane, vinyldimethylmethoxysilane, divinyldichlorosilane, divinyldimethoxysilane, allyltrichlorosilane, allylmethyldichlorosilane, allyldimethylmethoxysilane, diallyldichlorosilane, diallyldimethoxysilane, gamma-methacryloyloxypropyltrimethoxysilane, and gamma-methacryloyloxy-propyl-methyldimethoxysilane.

In one embodiment, the polymer component (A) may be a polymer of formula (3):

R² _(3-a)R¹ _(a)Si—Z—[R₂SiO]_(x)[R¹ ₂SiO]_(y)—Z—SiR¹ _(a)R² _(3-a)  (3)

where R¹, R², and Z are defined as above with respect to formula (2); R is C₁-C₆-alkyl (an exemplary alkyl being methyl); a is 0-2, x is 0 to about 10,000; preferably 11 to about 2500; and y is 0 to about 1,000; preferably 0 to 500. In one embodiment, Z in a compound of formula (3) is a bond or a divalent C₂ to C₁₄-alkylene group, especially preferred is —C₂H₄—.

Non-limiting examples of suitable polysiloxane-containing polymers (A1) include, for example, silanol-stopped polydimethylsiloxane, silanol or alkoxy-stopped polyorganosiloxanes, e.g., methoxystopped polydimethylsiloxane, alkoxy-stopped polydimethylsiloxane-polydiphenylsiloxane copolymer, and silanol or alkoxy-stopped fluoroalkyl-substituted siloxanes such as poly(methyl 3,3,3-trifluoropropyl)siloxane and poly(methyl 3,3,3-trifluoropropyl)siloxane-polydimethyl siloxane copolymer. The polyorganosiloxane component (Al) may be present in an amount of about 10 to about 90 wt. % of the composition or 100 pt. wt. In one preferred embodiment, the polyorganosiloxane component has an average chain length in the range of about 10 to about 2500 siloxy units, and the viscosity is in the range of about 10 to about 500,000 mPa·s at 25 C.

Alternatively, the composition may include silyl-terminated organic polymers (A2) that are free of siloxane units, and which undergo curing by a condensation reaction comparable to that of siloxane containing polymers (A1). Similar to the polyorganosiloxane polymer (A1), the organic polymers (A2) that are suitable as the polymer component (A) include a terminal silyl group. In one embodiment, the terminal silyl group may be of the formula (4):

—SiR¹ _(d)R² _(3-d)  (4)

where R¹, R², and a are as defined above.

Examples of suitable siloxane free organic polymers include, but are not limited to, silylated polyurethane (SPUR), silylated polyester, silylated polyether, silylated polycarbonate, silylated polyolefins like polyethylene, polypropylene, silylated polyesterether and combinations of two or more thereof. The siloxane-free organic polymer may be present in an amount of from about 10 to about 90 wt. % of the composition or about 100 pt. wt.

In one embodiment, the polymer component (A) may be a silylated polyurethane (SPUR). Such moisture curable compounds are known in the art in general can be obtained by various methods including (i) reacting an isocyanate-terminated polyurethane (PUR) prepolymer with a suitable silane, e.g., one possessing both hydrolyzable functionality at the silicon atom, such as, alkoxy etc., and secondly active hydrogen-containing functionality such as mercaptan, primary or secondary amine, preferably the latter, etc., or by (ii) reacting a hydroxyl-terminated PUR (polyurethane) prepolymer with a suitable isocyanate-terminated silane, e.g., one possessing one to three alkoxy groups. The details of these reactions, and those for preparing the isocyanate-terminated and hydroxyl-terminated PUR prepolymers employed therein can be found in, amongst others: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,985,491; 5,919,888; 6,207,794; 6,303,731; 6,359,101; and 6,515,164 and published U.S. Patent Application Nos. 2004/0122253 and US 2005/0020706 (isocyanate-terminated PUR prepolymers); U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,786,081 and 4,481,367 (hydroxyl-terminated PUR prepolymers); U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,627,722; 3,632,557; 3,971,751; 5,623,044; 5,852,137; 6,197,912; and 6,310,170 (moisture-curable SPUR (silane modified/terminated polyurethane) obtained from reaction of isocyanate-terminated PUR prepolymer and reactive silane, e.g., aminoalkoxysilane); and, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,345,053; 4,625,012; 6,833,423; and published U.S. Patent Application 2002/0198352 (moisture-curable SPUR obtained from reaction of hydroxyl-terminated PUR prepolymer and isocyanatosilane). The entire contents of the foregoing U.S. patent documents are incorporated by reference herein. Other examples of moisture curable SPUR materials include those described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,569,653, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The polysiloxane composition may further include a crosslinker or a chain extender as component (B). In one embodiment, the crosslinker is of the formula (5):

R¹ _(a)SiR² _(4-a)  (5)

wherein R² may be as described above, R¹ may be as described above, and a is 0-3. Alternatively, the cross-linker component may be a condensation product of formula (5) wherein one or more but not all R² groups are hydrolyzed and released in the presence of water and then intermediate silanols undergo a condensation reaction to give a Si—O—Si bond and water. The average polymerization degree can result in a compound having 2-10 Si units.

As used herein, the term crosslinker includes a compound including an additional reactive component having at least 2 hydrolysable groups and less than 3 silicon atoms per molecule not defined under (A). In one embodiment, the crosslinker or chain extender may be chosen from an alkoxysilane, an alkoxysiloxane, an oximosilane, an oximosiloxane, an enoxysilane, an enoxysiloxane, an aminosilane, a carboxysilane, a carboxysiloxane, an alkylamidosilane, an alkylamidosiloxane, an arylamidosilane, an arylamidosiloxane, an alkoxyaminosilane, an alkaryaminosiloxane, an alkoxycarbamatosilane, an alkoxycarbamatosiloxane, an imidatosilane, a ureidosilane, an isocyanatosilane, a thioisocyanatosilane, and combinations of two or more thereof. Examples of suitable cross-linkers include, but are not limited to, tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS); methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS); methyltriethoxysilane; vinyltrimethoxysilane; vinyltriethoxysilane; methylphenyldimethoxysilane; 3,3,3-trifluoropropyltrimethoxysilane; methyltriacetoxysilane; vinyltriacetoxysilane; ethyltriacetoxysilane; di-butoxydiacetoxysilane; phenyltripropionoxysilane; methyltris(methylethylketoxime)silane; vinyltris(methylethylketoxime)silane; 3,3,3-trifluoropropyltris(methylethylketoxime)silane; methyltris(isopropenoxy)silane; vinyltris(isopropenoxy)silane; ethylpolysilicate; dimethyltetraacetoxydisiloxane; tetra-n-propylorthosilicate; methyldimethoxy(ethylmethylketoximo)silane; methylmethoxybis-(ethylmethylketoximo)silane; methyldimethoxy(acetaldoximo)silane; methyldimethoxy(N-methylcarbamato)silane; ethyldimethoxy(N-methylcarbamato)silane; methyldimethoxyisopropenoxysilane; trimethoxyisopropenoxysilane; methyltri-iso-propenoxysilane; methyldimethoxy(but-2-ene-2-oxy)silane; methyldimethoxy(1-phenylethenoxy)silane; methyldimethoxy-2(1-carboethoxypropenoxy)silane; methylmethoxydi-N-methylaminosilane; vinyldimethoxymethylaminosilane; tetra-N,N-diethylaminosilane; methyldimethoxymethylaminosilane; methyltricyclohexylaminosilane; methyldimethoxyethylaminosilane; dimethyldi-N,N-dimethylaminosilane; methyldimethoxyisopropylaminosilane dimethyldi-N,N-diethylaminosilane. ethyldimethoxy(N-ethylpropionamido)silane; methyldimethoxy(N-methylacetamido)silane; methyltris(N-methylacetamido)silane; ethyldimethoxy(N-methylacetamido)silane; methyltris(N-methylbenzamido)silane; methylmethoxybis(N-methylacetamido)silane; methyldimethoxy(caprolactamo)silane; trimethoxy(N-methylacetamido)silane; methyldimethoxyethylacetimidatosilane; methyldimethoxypropylacetimidatosilane; methyldimethoxy(N,N′,N′-trimethylureido)silane; methyldimethoxy(N-allyl-N′,N′-dimethylureido)silane; methyldimethoxy(N-phenyl-N′,N′-dimethylureido)silane; methyldimethoxyisocyanatosilane; dimethoxydiisocyanatosilane; methyldimethoxythioisocyanatosilane; methylmethoxydithioisocyanatosilane, or combinations of two or more thereof. The crosslinker may be present in an amount from about 1 to about 10 wt. % of the composition or from about 0.1 to about 10 pt. wt. per 100 pt. wt. of the polymer component (A).

Additional alkoxysilanes in an amount greater than 0.1 wt. % of component and (A) that are not consumed by the reaction between the prepolymer Z′—X—Z′ and which comprise additional functional groups selected from R⁴ can also work as adhesion promoter and are defined and counted under component (D).

The composition employs a catalyst comprising a silylated carboxylic acid component (C). The silylated carboxylic acid can be used with an adhesion promoter (D), e.g., an amino-containing silane or a mixture of amino-containing silanes, an amino-containing siloxane component (E), or a combination thereof. The combination of the silylated carboxylic acid with one or more of components (D) and (E) has been found to catalyze the curing of the composition upon exposure to ambient air conditions. In one embodiment, the components (C), (D) and/or (E) may be collectively viewed as part of a catalyst system.

The silylated carboxylic acid comprises a carboxylic acid component and a silyl group bonded to the carboxylic acid. The silyl group can be bonded to the carboxylic acid through a hydroxyl group on the carboxylic acid and the Si atom on the silyl group. The silylated carboxylic acid can also be referred to herein as a silyl ester of a carboxylic acid.

The carboxylic acid component of the silylated carboxylic acid may be provided from any suitable carboxylic acid component. In one embodiment, the carboxylic acid component may be chosen from an aliphatic or unsaturated long chain or cyclic carboxylic acid. Suitable carboxylic acids for the carboxylic acid component (C) include, but are not limited to, a linear or branched alkyl C₄-C₃₀-alkyl carboxylic acid, including C₅-C₁₉ acids with alpha tertiary carbon, a linear or branched unsaturated C₄-C₃₀ carboxylic acid, or a combination of two or more thereof. Examples of suitable carboxylic acids that can be utilized herein include but are not limited to, propanoic acid, 2-methyl propanoic acid, butanoic acid, pentanoic acid (valeric acid), hexanoic acid (caproic acid), 2-ethylhexanoic acid, heptanoic acid (enanthic acid), octanoic acid (caprylic acid), oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, cyclohexanecarboxylic acid, cyclohexylacetic acid, cyclohexenecarboxylic acid, benzoic acid, benzeneacetic acid, propanedioic acid (malonic acid), butanedioic acid (succinic acid), hexanedioic acid (adipic acid), 2-butenedioic acid (maleic acid), lauric acid, stearic acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, isoanoic acid, Versatic™ Acid (available from Momentive), etc., or a combination of two or more thereof. In one embodiment, the acidic compound may be a mixture comprising branched alkyl carboxylic acids. In one embodiment, the acidic compound is a mixture of mainly tertiary aliphatic C₁₀ carboxylic acids.

Suitable unsaturated carboxylic acids for the silylated carboxylic acid include any carboxylic acids having at least one unsaturation. The unsaturated carboxylic acids comprise at least one double bond (unsaturation) and may also comprise at least two, at least three or at least four double bonds. Carboxylic acids having one double bond are monounsaturated carboxylic acids, carboxylic acids having two double bonds are di-unsaturated carboxylic acids. The unsaturated carboxylic acids can be linear, branched, or cyclic carboxylic acids. In one embodiment, unsaturated monocarboxylic acids are used.

Suitable monounsaturated carboxylic acids include, but are not limited to, butenoic acid (C4), pentenoic acid (C5), hexenoic acid (C6), heptenoic acid (C7), octenoic acid (C8), nonenoic acid (C9), decenoic acid (C10), undecenoic acid (C11), dodecenoic acid (C12), tridecenoic acid (C13), tetradecenoic acid (C14), pentadecenoic acid (C15), hexadecenoic acid (C16), heptadecenoic acid (C17), octadecenoic acid (C18), nonadecenoic acid (C19), eicosenoic acid (C20), docosenoic acid (C22), tetracosenoic acid (C24), wherein the position of the unsaturation can be at any location within the alkyl chain. The number in brackets designates the total number of carbon atoms in the carboxylic acid.

In one embodiment, linear, monounsaturated carboxylic acids are used. In still another embodiment, linear, monounsaturated monocarboxylic acids are used. Suitable linear, monounsaturated carboxylic acids include, but are not limited to, butenoic acid (C4), pentenoic acid (C5), hexenoic acid (C6), heptenoic acid (C7), octenoic acid (C8), nonenoic acid (C9), decenoic acid (C10), n-undecenoic acid (C11), n-dodecenoic acid (C12), n-tridecenoic acid (C13), n-tetradecenoic acid (C14), n-pentadecenoic acid (C15), n-hexadecenoic acid (C16), n-heptadecenoic acid (C17), n-octadecenoic acid (C18), n-nonadecenoic acid (C19), n-eicosenoic acid (C20), n-docosenoic acid (C22), n-tetracosenoic acid (C24), etc.

The silyl group can be chosen from an alkyl silyl group, an alkoxy silyl group, etc. In one embodiment, the silyl group is a tri-alkyl silyl group containing C₁-C₁₀ alkyl groups. In one embodiment, the silyl group is trimethyl silyl.

In one aspect, the silylated carboxylic acid component (C) has the general formula (6):

where R¹¹ is CH₃, an alkene, or a siloxane group; R¹², R¹³, and R¹⁴ are independently chosen from a C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, an alkoxy group of the formula OR¹⁵, where le is a C₁-C₁₀ alkyl group; and t is 4-30. In one embodiment, a group suitable as R¹¹ can be of the formula CR¹⁶═CR¹⁷R¹⁸ where R¹⁶, R¹⁷ and R¹⁸ are independently H, CH₃, C₁-C₁₀; or siloxane with formula —((CH₃)₃Si—O)₂—Si(CH3)-.

In one embodiment the silylated carboxylic acid can be trimethylsilyl undecanoic acid having the formula:

In another embodiment, the silylated carboxylic acid component (C) may be a siloxane modified silylated carboxylic acid, such as a compound of formula:

In one embodiment, the silylated carboxylic acid component (C) may be added to the composition in an amount of from about 0.01 to about 7.0 pt. wt. related to 100 part per weight of component (A). In another embodiment the silylated carboxylic acid component (C) may be added in an amount of from about 0.1 to about 1.0 pt. wt. In still another embodiment, the silylated carboxylic acid component (C) may be added in an amount of from about 0.2 to about 0.4 pt. wt. An increase in the amount of silylated carboxylic acid component complex as a catalyst may increase the rate of the surface cure time and the bulk or complete cure time for the composition. Furthermore, the amount of the silylated carboxylic acid component complex added to the composition may affect the viscosity of the composition. Particularly, an increase in the amount of the silylated carboxylic acid component may increase the final viscosity of the composition.

The composition further includes an amino-containing adhesion promoter component (D) that is different to component (A) or (B). The amino group-containing silane adhesion promoter agent (D) is a compound having a group containing a silicon atom bonded to a hydrolyzable group (hereinafter referred to as a hydrolyzable group attached to the silicon atom) and an amino group. Specific examples thereof include the same silyl groups with hydrolyzable groups described above. Among these groups, the methoxy group and ethoxy group are particularly suitable. The number of the hydrolyzable groups may be 2 or more, and particularly suitable are compounds having 3 or more hydrolyzable groups. In one embodiment, the adhesion promoter (D) may be an organofunctional silane comprising the group R⁴, e.g., aminosilanes, and other silanes that are not identical to the silanes of component (B), or are present in an amount which exceeds the amount of silanes necessary for endcapping the polymer (A). The amount of non-reacted silane (B) or (D) in the reaction for making (A) can be defined in that after the endcapping reaction the free silanes are evaporated at a higher temperature up to 200° C. and vacuum up to 1 mbar to be more than 0.1 wt. % of (A).

In one embodiment, the amino-containing adhesion promoter (D) may be described by the general formula (7):

R⁴ _(e)R¹ _(d)Si(OR³)_(4-d-e)  (7)

where R⁴ is E-(CR⁵ ₂)_(f)—W—(CH₂)_(f)—; R¹ is as described above; d is 0, 1 or 2; e=1, 2 or 3; d+e=1 to 2; and f is 0 to 8, and may be identical or different, and E may be E¹ or E² as described herein. Non-limiting examples of suitable compounds include:

E¹-(CR⁵ ₂)_(f)—W—(CH₂)_(f)SiR¹ _(d)(OR³)_(3-d)  (7a) or (7d)

E²-[(CR⁵ ₂)_(f)—W—(CH₂)_(f)—SiR¹ _(d)(OR³)_(3-d)]_(p)  (7b) or (7f)

where p=2-3.

The group E may be selected from either a group E¹ or E². E¹ may be selected from a monovalent group comprising amine, —NH₂, —NHR, —(NHC₂H₅)₁₋₁₀NHR, and NHC₆H₅. E² may be selected from a group comprising of a di- or multivalent group consisting of amine and polyamine. W may be selected from the group consisting of a single bond, a heteroatomic group selected from —COO—, —O—, epoxy, —S—, —CONH—, —HN—CO—NH— units R⁵ may be selected from hydrogen and R as defined above. R¹ may be identical or different as defined above. R³ may be selected from a C₁-C₈-alkoxy, such as methoxy, ethoxy, a C₃-C₁₂-alkoxyalkyl, a C₂-C₂₂-alkylcarboxy, and a C₄-C₁₀₀-polyalkylene oxide, which may be identical or different.

Non-limiting examples of the amino-containing component (D) include:

wherein R and d are as defined above. Examples of component (D) include compounds of the formulas (7a-7k). Furthermore the formula (7b) of compounds (D) shall comprise compounds of the formula (7k):

wherein: R, R¹, R³, and R⁴ are as defined above providing R4 is an amino-containing compound; R⁶ is hydrogen, R, linear and branched C₃-C₁₆ alkyl, C₅-C₁₄ cycloalkyl, phenyl, and phenyl substituted with C₁-C₈ alkyl; s is 0-6 (and in one embodiment desirably 0); u is 0-10 (in one embodiment desirably 0-5); and s+u is 10 or less. In one embodiment, R⁴ is selected from: E¹-(CR⁵ ₂)_(f)—W—(CH₂)_(f)—

Examples of other suitable adhesion promoter (D) include, but are not limited to N-(2-aminoethyl)aminopropyltrimethoxysilane gamma-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, gamma-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, bis(gamma-trimethoxysilypropyl)amine, N-phenyl-gamma-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, triaminofunctionaltrimethoxysilane, gamma-aminopropylmethyldimethoxysilane, gamma-aminopropylmethyldiethoxysilane, omega-bis-(aminoalkyl-diethoxysilyl)-polydimethylsiloxanes (Pn=1-7), alpha, omega-bis-(aminoalkyl-diethoxysilyl)-octa-methyltetrasiloxane, 4-amino-3,3,-dimethyl-butyl-tri-methoxysilane, and N-ethyl-3-tri-methoxy-silyl-2-methylpropanamine, 3-(diethyl-aminopropyl)-trimethoxysilane combinations of two or more thereof, and the like. Particularly suitable amino-containing adhesion promoters include bis(alkyltrialkoxysilyl)amines and tris(alkyltrialkoxysilyl)amines including, but not limited to, bis(3-propyltrimethoxysilyl)amine and tris(3-propyltrimethoxysilyl)amine.

Also it is possible to use derivatives obtained by modifying them, for example, amino-modified silyl polymer, silylated amino polymer, unsaturated aminosilane complex, phenylamino long-chain alkyl silane and aminosilylated silicone. These amino group-containing silane coupling agents may be used alone, or two or more kinds of them may be used in combination.

The amino-containing adhesion promoter (D) may be present in an amount of from about 0.1 to about 5.0 pt. wt. based on 100 parts of the polymer component (A). In one embodiment, the amino-containing adhesion promoter may be present in an amount of from about 0.15 to about 2.0 pt. wt. In another embodiment, the amino-containing adhesion promoter may be present in an amount of from about 0.5 to about 1.5 pt. wt. of the polymer component (A). This defines the amount of (D) in composition of (A) wherein the content of free silanes coming from the endcapping of polymer (A) is smaller than 0.1 wt. %.

In one embodiment, the composition may optionally comprise an amino-functional siloxane component (E). Without being bound to any particular theory, the amino-functional silicone may further enhance the catalytic activity of the combination of the silylated carboxylic acid component and the amino-containing adhesion promoter. The composition may comprise from about 0 to about 5 pt. wt. of amino-functional siloxane component (E) per 100 pt. wt. of component (A). In one embodiment, the composition may comprise from about 0.1 to about 5 pt. wt. of amino-functional siloxane component (E) per 100 pt. wt. of component (A). In one embodiment, the composition may comprise from about 0.1 to about 2 pt. wt. of amino-functional siloxane component (E) per 100 pt. wt. of component (A). In another embodiment, the composition may comprise from about 0.2 to about 1 pt. wt. of amino-functional siloxane component (E) per 100 pt. wt. of component (A). In another embodiment, the composition may comprise from about 0.3 to about 0.8 pt. wt. of amino-functional siloxane component (E) per 100 pt. wt. of component (A).

Amino-functional siloxaness useful in the present invention include silicone polymers that contain primary, secondary, or tertiary amino functional groups. In one embodiment, the amino-functional silicones are copolymers of dialkylsiloxane and amino-functional siloxane comonomers. The amino-functional silicones may contain about 1 to about 50 mole percent of amino-functional siloxane comonomer units, desirably about 1 to about 30 mole percent of amino-functional siloxane comonomer units. These silicone fluids may contain starting materials and reaction by-products in addition to the amino-functional dialkylpolysiloxane.

Suitable amino-functional silicones include those disclosed in co-owned U.S. Pat. No. 4,665,116 to Kornhaber et al., the pertinent disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. Examples of suitable amino-functional silicones include (2-aminoethyl)methylpolysiloxane, (3-aminopropyl)methylpolysiloxane, (2-aminoethyl-3-aminopropyl)methylpolysiloxane, (3-(2-aminoethyoxy)propyl)methylpolysiloxane, (7-aminohexyl)methylpolysiloxane, (3-(2-aminoethoxy)propyl)methylpolysiloxane, (3-(2-aminoethylamino)propyl)methylsiloxane, dimethylsiloxane copolymers thereof, and the like. Useful amino-functional dialkylpolysiloxanes and methods for preparing them are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,890,269, 3,960,575 and 4,247,330 whose pertinent disclosures are incorporated herein by reference.

A particularly suitable amino-functional polydimethylsiloxane is commercially available under the designation SF-1706 from Momentive, and is a mixture of aminoethylaminopropylpolysiloxane and methoxy-terminated dimethylsiloxane polymers having according to the manufacturer's Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for the product. Other suitable amino-functional silicones are available from Momentive Performance Materials and OSi Specialties, Inc. of Danbury, Conn.

Optionally, the composition may further comprise an adhesion promoter different from the amino-containing adhesion promoter component (D) described above. Such other adhesion promoters may include those described by formulas (7), (7a), and (7b) as previously described where E may be E1 or E2. In these other adhesion promoters, E1 may be selected from halogen, pseudohalogen, unsaturated aliphatic group with up to 14 carbon atoms, epoxy-group-containing aliphatic group with up to 14 carbon atoms, cyanurate-containing group, and an isocyanurate-containing group. E² may be selected from a group comprising of a di- or multivalent group consisting of isocyanurate-containing and an isocyanurate-containing group, sulfide, sulfate, phosphate, phosphite and a polyorganosiloxane group, which can contain R⁴ and OR³ groups. W may be as described above with respect to the adhesion promoter component (D).

Examples of suitable adhesion promoters include methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane, methylaminopropyltrimethoxysilane, gamma-glycidoxypropylethyldimethoxysilane, gamma-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane, gamma-glycidoxyethyltrimethoxysilane, gamma-(3,4-epoxycyclohexyl)ethyltrimethoxysilane, beta-(3,4-epoxycyclohexyl)ethylmethyl-dimethoxysilane, epoxylimonyltrimethoxysilane, isocyanatopropyltriethoxysilane, isocyanatopropyltrimethoxysilane, isocyanatopropylmethyldimethoxysilane, beta-cyano-ethyl-trimethoxysilane, gamma-acryloxypropyl-trimethoxy-silane, gamma-methacryloxypropyl-methyldimethoxysilane, alpha, or a combination of two or more thereof.

The compositions may further include other optional components as may be used in curable compositions such as, for example, an amino-functional siloxane (E), a filler component (F), and/or auxiliary components (G). The amino-functional siloxane component (E) may be used with the silylated carboxylic acid component (C) and the adhesion promoter component (D) to control the curing of the composition. Without being bound to any particular theory, the amino-functional siloxane component (E) may enhance the catalytic activity of the silylated carboxylic acid component (C) and an amino-containing silane adhesion promoter.

The filler component(s) (F) may have different functions, such as to be used as reinforcing or semi-reinforcing filler, i.e., to achieve higher tensile strength after curing having in addition the ability to increase the viscosity establish pseudoplasticity/shear thinning, and thixotropic behavior as well as non-reinforcing fillers acting mainly as a volume extender. The reinforcing fillers are characterized by having a specific surface area of more than 50 m²/g related BET-surface, whereby the semi-reinforcing fillers have a specific surface area in the range of 10-50 m²/g. So-called extending fillers have preferably a specific surface of less than 10 m²/g according to the BET-method and an average particle diameter below 100 μm. In one embodiment of the semi-reinforcing filler is a calcium carbonate filler, the reinforcing filler is a silica filler, or a mixture thereof. Examples of suitable reinforcing fillers include, but are not limited to fumed silicas or precipitated silica, which can be partially or completely treated with organosilanes or siloxanes to make them less hydrophilic and decrease the water content or control the viscosity and storage stability of the composition. These fillers are named hydrophobic fillers. Tradenames are Aerosil®, HDK®, Cab-O-Sil® etc.

Examples of suitable extending fillers include, but are not limited to, ground silicas (Celite™), precipitated and colloidal calcium carbonates (which are optionally treated with compounds such as stearate or stearic acid); reinforcing silicas such as fumed silicas, precipitated silicas, silica gels and hydrophobized silicas and silica gels; crushed and ground quartz, cristobalite, alumina, aluminum hydroxide, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, diatomaceous earth, iron oxide, carbon black, powdered thermoplastics such as acrylonitrile, polyethylene, polypropylene, polytetrafluoroethylene and graphite or clays such as kaolin, bentonite or montmorillonite (treated/untreated), and the like.

The type and amount of filler added depends upon the desired physical properties for the cured silicone/non-silicone composition. As such, the filler may be a single species or a mixture of two or more species. The extending fillers can be present from about 0 to about 300 wt. % of the composition related to 100 parts of component (A). The reinforcing fillers can be present from about 5 to about 60 wt. % of the composition related to 100 parts of component (A), preferably 5 to 30 wt. %.

The curable composition may also include auxiliary substances (G) such as plastizers, pigments, stabilizers, anti-microbial or fungicides, biocides and/or solvents. Preferred plastizers for reactive polyorganosiloxanes (A) are selected from the group of polyorganosiloxanes having chain length of 10-300 siloxy units. Preferred are trimethylsilyl terminated polydimethylsiloxanes having a viscosity of 100-1000 mPa·s at 25° C. Water can be an additional component (G) to accelerate fast curing 2 part compositions RTV 2-K, whereby the water can be in one part of the 2 compositions.

In one embodiment, a composition in accordance with the present invention comprises: 100 pt. wt. polymer component (A); about 0.1 to about 10 pt. wt. crosslinker component (B); about 0.01 to about 7 pt. wt. silylated carboxylic acid component (C); about 0.1 to about 5, in one embodiment 0.15-1 pt. wt., of an amino-containing adhesion promoter component (D); 0 to 5 pt. wt. amino-functional siloxane (E); about 0 to about 300 pt. wt. filler component (F); optionally 0 to about 15 pt. wt. component (G), where the pt. wt. of components (B)-(G) are each based on 100 parts of the polymer component (A).

It will be appreciated that the curable compositions may be provided as either a one-part composition or a two-part composition. A one-part composition refers to a composition comprising a mixture of the various components described above. A two-part composition may comprise a first portion and a second portion that are separately stored and subsequently mixed together just prior to application for curing. In one embodiment, a two-part composition comprises a first portion (P1) comprising a polymer component (A) and filler (F) and a second portion (P2), comprising a crosslinker component (B), the silylated carboxylic acid component (C). The first and second portions may include other components such as (G) as may be desired for a particular purpose or intended use. For example, in one embodiment, the first portion (P1) may optionally comprise an amino-containing adhesion promoter (D), optionally an amino-functional silicone, and/or a filler (E), and the second portion (P2) may optionally comprise auxiliary substances (G), and water.

In one embodiment, a two-part composition comprises (i) a first portion comprising the polymer component (A) and optionally the filler component (F); and (ii) a second portion comprising the crosslinker (B), the silylated carboxylic acid component (C), the amino-containing adhesion promoter or a mixture of amino-containing adhesion promoters (D), and optionally the amino-functional siloxane (E), where portions (i) and (ii) are stored separately until applied for curing by mixing of the components (i) and (ii).

The present invention also provides compositions that are curable via dehydrogenative condensation utilizing silylated carboxylic acids. In one embodiment, a composition curable via dehydrogenative condensation comprises a polymer comprising one or more hydridosilyl groups; a polymer comprising one or more silanol groups; and a catalyst composition comprising a silylated carboxylic acid compound. The present invention also provides materials formed by curing such compositions.

The curable compositions may be used in a wide range of applications including as materials for sealing, mold making, adhesives, coatings in sanitary rooms, glazing, prototyping, joint seal between different materials, e.g. sealants between ceramic or mineral surfaces and thermoplastics, paper release, impregnation, and the like. A curable composition in accordance with the present invention comprising a combination of silylated carboxylic acid and an amino-containing adhesion promoter as a catalyst may be suitable for a wide variety of applications such as, for example, a general purpose and industrial sealant, potting compound, caulk, adhesive or coating for construction use, insulated glass (IG), structural glazing (SSG), where glass sheets are fixed and sealed in metal frame; caulks, adhesives for metal plates, car bodies, vehicles, electronic devices and the like. Furthermore, the present composition may be used either as a one-part RTV-1K or as a two-part room temperature vulcanizing (RTV-2K) formulation which can adhere onto broad variety of metal, mineral, ceramic, rubber or plastic surfaces.

Curable compositions comprising the non-metal catalyst system comprising a silylated carboxylic acid and an amino-containing adhesion promoter may be further understood with reference to the following Examples.

EXAMPLES Comparative Examples 1-7

Comparative examples 1-7 are prepared according to the formulations of Table 1. The surface curing (TFT) and bulk curing is monitored as a function of time (maximum of 7 days).

Measurement of Surface Curing (TFT) and Bulk Curing

The surface cure is denoted by tack free time (TFT). In a typical TFT measurement, a stainless steel (SS) weight (weighing about 10 g) is placed on the surface of the formulation spread on the Teflon mold to infer the tackiness of the surface as whether any material is adhered to the surface of the SS weight or not. TFT is defined as the time taken for getting a non-tacky surface. Bulk curing is the time taken for complete curing of formulation throughout the thickness (i.e. Top to bottom) and it is monitored as a function of time (visual inspection) till 7 days. Table 1 compares the properties of TFT and bulk cure properties of composition comprising silylated carboxylic acid with and without amino-silanes.

TABLE 1 Comp. Comp. Comp. Comp. Comp. Comp. Comp. Components Ex-1 Ex-2 Ex-3 Ex-4 Ex-5 Ex-6 Ex-7 Component-A PDMS + Silica 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 Component-B EPS 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 A-1110 0.5 0 0 0 0.5 0 0 A-1120 0 0.5 0 0 0 0.5 0 A-1170 0 0 0.5 0 0 0 0.5 Trimethyl 0 0 0 0.4 0 0 0 silyl undecenoic acid DBTDL 0 0 0 0 0.1 0.1 0.1 TFT (min) 72 80 62 DNC* 11 13 10 Bulk Cure (h) <48 h <48 h <48 h DNC* 8 h 8 h 8 h DNC = did not cure, *All the components are taken in grams

Examples 1-19 Curable Compositions

To a mixture of 1 g of ethyl polysilicate (EPS), 0.5 g aminosilane, and a silylated carboxylic acid (0.4 g) (Part-2), 99.66 g of a mixture of silanol-stopped PDMS and silica filler (Part-1) is added and mixed using a Hauschild mixer for 1.5 min. The formulation is poured into a Teflon mold (length×breadth×depth of about 10 cm×10 cm×1 cm) placed inside a fume hood. The surface curing (TFT) and bulk curing is monitored as a function of time (maximum of 7 days). The silylated carboxylic acids utilized in the examples are trimethylsilyl undecanoic acid (TJA-TMS), Versatic acid 10-trimethylsilyl ester (VA10-TMS), or trisiloxane-undecanoic acid-trimethylsilyl ester (TS-US-TMS). The formulations are shown in Tables 2 and 3

Measurement of TFT and bulk curing of the formulations in Tables 2 and 3 is a similar measurement process as described above with regard to Table 1. Table 2 compares the properties of compositions using 0.4 g of trimethylsilyl undecenoic acid.

TABLE 2 Components Ex-1 Ex-2 Ex-3 Ex-4 Ex-5 Ex-6 Ex-7 Ex-8 Ex-9 Ex-10 Component-A PDMS + 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 Silica Component-B EPS 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 NPS 0 0 0 3 3 3 0 0 0 0 MTMS 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 3 3 0 A-1110 0.5 0 0 0.5 0 0 0.5 0 0 0 A-1120 0 0.5 0 0 0.5 0 0 0.5 0 0.25 A-1170 0 0 0.5 0 0 0.5 0 0 0.5 0.25 UA-TMS 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 TFT (min) 65 40 1 >240 190 1 >200 190 1 13 Bulk Cure <48 h <48 h 3 h DNC DNC 3 h DNC DNc 3 h <48 h (h) Hardness Good Good Good NA NA Good NA NA Good Good NA = Not Applicable; EPS = Ethyl polysilicate; NPS = n-Propyl silicate; MTMS = Methyltrimethoxy silane; UA-TMS—undecenoic acid-trimethylsilyl ester; *All the components are taken in grams

TABLE 3 Components Ex-11 Ex-12 Ex-13 Ex-14 Ex-15 Ex-16 Ex-17 Ex-18 Ex-19 Component-A PDMS + Silica 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 Component-B EPS 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 NPS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 MTMS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 A-1110 0.5 0 0 0.5 0 0 0 0 0 A-1120 0 0.5 0 0 0.5 0 0.25 0 0 A-1170 0 0 0.5 0 0 0.5 0.25 0.5 0.5 VA10-TMS 0.4 0.4 0.4 0 0 0 0 0 0 TS-UA-TMS 0 0 0 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 TFT (min) 32 21 1 42 31 3 16 3 8 Bulk Cure (h) <48 h <48 h 3 h 30 24 4 24 5 6 Hardness Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good VA10-TMS—Versatic acid10-trimethylsilyl ester;

The Comparative Examples C1-C7 and Examples 1-19 show the effect of the combination of a silylated carboxylic acid, such as, for example, trimethylsilyl undecenoic acid, Versatic acid 10-trimethylsilyl ester, or trisiloxane-undecanoic acid-trimethylsilyl ester, and an amino-silane as a catalyst replacement for metal-based catalysts including tin-based catalysts. If the tin catalyst is replaced by a silylated carboxylic acid, e.g., trimethylsilyl undecenoic acid, or aminosilanes alone, as shown in Comparative Examples C1-C6, the Tack-Free-Time and Bulk Cure Time are enlarged. If a combination of silylated carboxylic acid and amino-containing silane is used as shown in the Examples 1-19, the Tack-Free-Time and Bulk Cure Time gets shorter. In addition, the level of hardness is affected.

Examples 1-19 and Comparative Examples C1-C7 show the effect of the replacement of the tin catalyst versus the inventive combination of trimethylsilyl undecenoic acid with aminosilane and/or aminosiloxane as catalysts. The simple replacement of the tin catalyst by the combination of lower loading (0.03 parts instead of 0.2 parts in the formulations described in Table-1) of trimethylsilyl undecenoic acid with amino-silane results in enlarged TFT (See Comparative Examples 1-7), whereas the combination of higher loading of silylated carboxylic acid, e.g., trimethylsilyl undecenoic acid, Versatic acid 10-trimethylsilyl ester, or trisiloxane-undecanoic acid-trimethylsilyl ester, along with amino-silanes and aminosiloxane, as shown in Examples 1-19, results in improved TFT and bulk cure as compared to Comparative Examples C1-C4. The combination of silylated carboxylic acid and amino-silanes and/or aminosiloxanes can provide TFT and bulk curing on the order of that observed with conventional tin catalysts. As shown in the tables, selection of the silylated carboxylic acid and the amino-silane and/or aminosiloxane can allow for control or tuning of the composition's cure properties.

Examples 20-24

Examples 20-24 were prepared according to the formulations in Table 4.

TABLE 4 Components Ex-20 Ex-21 Ex-22 Ex-23 Ex-24 Component-A PDMS + Silica + 100 100 100 100 100 CaCo₃ Component-B EPS 1 1 1 0 0 NPS 0 0 0 3 0 MTMS 0 0 0 0 3 A-1110 0.6 0 0 0 0 A-1120 0 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 A-1170 0 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 UA-TMS 0.2 0.2 0.4 0.4 0.4 TFT (min) 40 25 22 58 38 Hardness (3 d) 23/26 32/24 33/26 23/12 23/0

In these examples, component B was heat aged at 50 C for 4 hr to check the stability of the composition. The results shown in Table 4 indicate the shelf life properties of the component B. The results indicate that the catalytic performance remains unchanged even after heat aging the component. These formulations exhibit excellent adhesion to variety metal and plastic substrates.

Embodiments of the invention have been described above and modifications and alterations may occur to others upon the reading and understanding of this specification. The claims as follows are intended to include all modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the claims or the equivalent thereof. 

1. A composition for forming a cured polymer composition comprising: (A) a polymer having at least a reactive silyl group; (B) a crosslinker or chain extender chosen from an alkoxysilane, an alkoxysiloxane, an oximosilane, an oximosiloxane, an enoxysilane, an enoxysiloxane, an aminosilane, a carboxysilane, a carboxysiloxane, an alkylamidosilane, an alkylamidosiloxane, an arylamidosilane, an arylamidosiloxane, an alkoxyaminosilane, an alkarylaminosiloxane, an alkoxycarbamatosilane, an alkoxycarbamatosiloxane, and combinations of two or more thereof; (C) a catalyst composition comprising a silylated carboxylic acid compound; (D) an adhesion promoter; (E) optionally a cure accelerator; and (F) optionally a flow modifier or extender.
 2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the silylated carboxylic acid is a silyl ester of a carboxylic acid comprising a silyl group bonded to a carboxylic acid compound.
 3. The composition of claim 2, wherein the carboxylic acid compound of the silylated carboxylic acid is chosen from an aliphatic carboxylic acid, an unsaturated carboxylic acid, or a combination of two or more thereof.
 4. The composition of claim 2, wherein the carboxylic acid compound of the silylated carboxylic acid is chosen from a linear or branched C₄-C₃₀-alkyl carboxylic acid, or a combination of two or more such carboxylic acids.
 5. The composition of claim 1, wherein the carboxylic acid compound is chosen from undecenoic acid, dodecenoic acid, tridecenoic acid, tetradecenoic acid, pentadecenoic acid, hexadecenoic acid, heptadecenoic acid, octadecenoic acid, nonadecenoic acid, eicosenoic acid, docosenoic acid, tetracosenoic acid, or a combination of two or more thereof.
 6. The composition of claim 1, wherein the silyl group is an alkyl silyl group, an alkoxy silyl group, or a combination thereof.
 7. The composition of claim 1, wherein the silyl group is a trialkyl silyl group comprising alkyl groups having 1 to 10 carbon atoms.
 8. The composition of claim 1, wherein the catalyst composition comprises a trimethylsilyl ester of undecenoic acid.
 9. The composition of claim 1, wherein the silylated carboxylic acid is of the formula:

where R¹¹ is CH₃, an alkene, or a siloxane group of formula —((CH₃)₃Si—O)₂—Si(CH3); R¹², R¹³, and R¹⁴ are independently chosen from a C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, polysiloxane, an alkoxy group of the formula OR¹⁵, where R¹⁵ is a C₁-C₁₀ alkyl group; and t is 4-30.
 10. The composition of claim 1, wherein the silylated carboxylic acid is of the formula:


11. The composition of claim 1 comprising from about 0.005 to about 7 pt. wt. of the catalyst composition (C) per 100 pt. wt. of component (A).
 12. The composition of claim 1 comprising from about 0.1 to about 5 pt. wt. of the silylated carboxylic acid compound (C) per 100 pt. wt. of component (A).
 13. The composition of claim 1, wherein the adhesion promoter (D) includes an amino silane functional compound and/or an organic amine.
 14. The composition of claim 1, wherein the adhesion promoter (D) is chosen from an (aminoalkyl)trialkoxysilane, an (aminoalkyl)alkyldialkoxysilane, a bis(trialkoxysilylalkyl)amine, a tris(trialkoxysilylalkyl)amine, a tris(trialkoxysilylalkyl)cyanurate, and a tris(trialkoxysilylalkyl)isocyanurate, an (epoxyalkyl)alkyldialkoxysilane, an (epoxyalkyl)trialkoxysilane, an (epoxyalkylether)trialkoxysilane, or a combination of two or more thereof.
 15. The composition of claim 1 further comprising from about 0.1 to about 5 pt. wt. of amino-containing adhesion promoter (D) per 100 pt. wt. of component (A).
 16. The composition of claim 1 comprising from about 0.1 to about 5 pt. wt. of an amino-functional siloxane component (E) per 100 pt. wt. of component (A).
 17. The polymer composition of claim 1, wherein the polymer (A) has the formula (2) [R¹ _(a)R² _(3-a)Si—Z—]_(n)—X—Z—SiR¹ _(a)R² _(3-a)  (2) where X is chosen from a polyurethane; a polyester; a polyether; a polycarbonate; a polyolefin; a polypropylene; a polyesterether; and a polyorganosiloxane having units of R₃SiO_(1/2), R₂SiO, RSiO_(3/2), and/or SiO_(4/2), n is 0 to 100, a is 0 to 2, R¹ can be identical or different at the same Si-atom and chosen from a C₁-C₁₀-alkyl; a C₁-C₁₀ alkyl substituted with one or more of Cl, F, N, O or S; a phenyl; a C₇-C₁₆ alkylaryl; a C₇-C₁₆ arylalkyl; a C₂-C₄ polyalkylene ether; or a combination of two or more thereof, R² is chosen from OH, a C₁-C₈-alkoxy, a C₂-C₁₈-alkoxyalkyl, an oximoalkyl, an enoxyalkyl, an aminoalkyl, a carboxyalkyl, an amidoalkyl, an amidoaryl, a carbamatoalkyl, or a combination of two or more thereof, and Z is a bond, a divalent unit selected from the group of a C₁-C₈ alkylene, or O.
 18. The composition of claim 1, wherein the cross-linker component (B) is chosen from a silane or a siloxane, the silane or siloxane having two or more reactive groups that can undergo hydrolysis and/or condensation reaction with polymer (A) or on its own in the presence of water and component (F).
 19. The composition of claim 1 wherein the cross-linker component (B) is chosen from tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS); a polycondensate of TEOS; methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS); vinyl-trimethoxysilane; methylvinyldimethoxysilane; dimethyldiethoxysilane; vinyltriethoxysilane; tetra-n-propylorthosilicate; vinyltris(methylethylketoxime)silane; methyltris(methylethylketoxime)silane; trisacetamidomethylsilane; bisacetamidodimethylsilane; tris(N-methyl-acetamido)methylsilane; bis(N-methylacetamido)dimethylsilane; (N-methyl-acetamido)methyldialkoxysilane; trisbenzamidomethylsilane; trispropenoxymethylsilane; alkyldialkoxyamidosilanes; alkylalkoxybisamidosilanes; CH₃Si(OC₂H₅)₁₋₂(NHCOR)₂₋₁; (CH₃Si(OC₂H₅)(NCH₃COC₆H₅)₂; CH₃Si(OC₂H₅)—(NHCOC₆H₅)₂; methyldimethoxy(ethylmethylketoximo)silane; methylmethoxybis-(ethylmethylketoximo)silane; methyldimethoxy(acetaldoximo)silane; methyldimethoxy(N-methylcarbamato)silane; ethyldimethoxy(N-methylcarbamato)silane; methyldimethoxyisopropenoxysilane; trimethoxyisopropenoxysilane; methyltri-iso-propenoxysilane; methyldimethoxy(but-2-ene-2-oxy)silane; methyldimethoxy(1-phenylethenoxy)silane; methyldimethoxy-2(1-carboethoxypropenoxy)silane; methylmethoxydi-N-methylaminosilane; vinyldimethoxymethylaminosilane; tetra-N,N-diethylaminosilane; methyldimethoxymethylaminosilane; methyltricyclohexylaminosilane; methyldimethoxyethylaminosilane; dimethyldi-N,N-dimethylaminosilane; methyldimethoxyisopropylaminosilane dimethyldi-N,N-diethylaminosilane. ethyldimethoxy(N-ethylpropionamido)silane; methyldimethoxy(N-methylacetamido)silane; methyltris(N-methylacetamido)silane; ethyldimethoxy(N-methylacetamido)silane; methyltris(N-methylbenzamido)silane; methylmethoxybis(N-methylacetamido)silane; methyldimethoxy(caprolactamo)silane; trimethoxy(N-methylacetamido)silane; methyldimethoxyethylacetimidatosilane; methyldimethoxypropylacetimidatosilane; methyldimethoxy(N,N′,N′-trimethylureido)silane; methyldimethoxy(N-allyl-N′,N′-dimethylureido)silane; methyldimethoxy(N-phenyl-N′,N′-dimethylureido)silane; methyldimethoxyisocyanatosilane; dimethoxydiisocyanatosilane; methyldimethoxythioisocyanatosilane; methylmethoxydithioisocyanatosilane, or a combination of two or more thereof.
 20. The composition of claim 1, comprising about 0.1 to about 10 pt. wt. of the crosslinker component (B) based on 100 pt. wt. of the polymer component (A).
 21. The composition of claim 1, wherein the polymer component (A) is chosen from a polyorganosiloxane comprising divalent units of the formula [R₂SiO] in the backbone, wherein R is chosen from a C₁-C₁₀-alkyl; a C₁-C₁₀ alkyl substituted with one or more of Cl, F, N, O or S; a phenyl; a C₇-C₁₆ alkylaryl; a C₇-C₁₆ arylalkyl; a C₂-C₄ polyalkylene ether; or a combination of two or more thereof.
 22. The polymer composition of claim 1, wherein the polymer component (A) has the formula (3): R² _(3-a)R¹ _(a)Si—Z—[R₂SiO]_(x)[R¹ ₂SiO]_(y)—Z—SiR¹ _(a)R² _(3-a)—  (3) whereby x is 0 to 10000; y is 0 to 1000; a is 0 to 2; R is methyl; R¹ is chosen from a C₁-C₁₀-alkyl; a C₁-C₁₀ alkyl substituted with one or more of Cl, F, N, O or S; a phenyl; a C₇-C₁₆ alkylaryl; a C₇-C₁₆ arylalkyl; a C₂-C₄ polyalkylene ether; or a combination of two or more thereof, and other siloxane units may be present in amounts less than 10 mol. %; R² is chosen from OH, a C₁-C₈-alkoxy, a C₂-C₁₈-alkoxyalkyl, an oximoalkyl, an enoxyalkyl, an aminoalkyl, a carboxyalkyl, an amidoalkyl, an amidoaryl, a carbamatoalkyl, or a combination of two or more thereof; and Z is —O—, a bond, or —C₂H₄—.
 23. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition is provided as a one part composition.
 24. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition is provided as a two part composition comprising a first portion (P1) and a second portion (P2).
 25. The composition of claim 1 comprising: 100 pt. wt. of component (A), 0.1 to about 10 pt. wt. of at least one crosslinker (B), 0.01 to about 7 pt. wt. of the catalyst composition (C), 0 to about 5 pt. wt. of an amino-functional siloxane (E), 0 to about 300 pt. wt. of component (F), 0.01 to about 8 pt. wt. of component (G), whereby this composition can be stored in the absence of humidity and is curable in the presence of humidity upon exposure to ambient air.
 26. A method of providing a cured material comprising exposing the composition of claim 1 to ambient air.
 27. A method of providing a cured material comprising combining the first portion and the second portion of claim 24 and curing the mixture.
 28. A cured polymer material formed from the composition of claim
 1. 29. The cured polymer material of claim 25 in the form of an elastomeric or duromeric seal, an adhesive, a coating, an encapsulant, a shaped article, a mold, and an impression material.
 30. A composition curable via dehydrogenative condensation comprising: a polymer comprising one or more hydridosilyl groups; a polymer comprising one or more silanol groups; and a catalyst composition comprising a silylated carboxylic acid compound.
 31. The composition of claim 30, wherein the silylated carboxylic acid is a silyl ester of a carboxylic acid comprising a silyl group bonded to a carboxylic acid compound.
 32. The composition of claim 31, wherein the carboxylic acid compound of the silylated carboxylic acid is chosen from an aliphatic carboxylic acid, an unsaturated carboxylic acid, or a combination of two or more thereof.
 33. The composition of claim 31, wherein the carboxylic acid compound of the silylated carboxylic acid is chosen from a linear or branched C₄-C₃₀-alkyl carboxylic acid, or a combination of two or more such carboxylic acids.
 34. The composition of claim 30, wherein the carboxylic acid compound is chosen from undecenoic acid, dodecenoic acid, tridecenoic acid, tetradecenoic acid, pentadecenoic acid, hexadecenoic acid, heptadecenoic acid, octadecenoic acid, nonadecenoic acid, eicosenoic acid, docosenoic acid, tetracosenoic acid, or a combination of two or more thereof.
 35. The composition of claim 30, wherein the silyl group is an alkyl silyl group, an alkoxy silyl group, or a combination thereof.
 36. The composition of claim 30, wherein the silyl group is a trialkyl silyl group comprising alkyl groups having 1 to 10 carbon atoms.
 37. The composition of claim 30, wherein the catalyst composition comprises a trimethylsilyl ester of undecenoic acid.
 38. The composition of claim 30, wherein the silylated carboxylic acid is of the formula:

where R¹¹ is CH₃, an alkene, or a siloxane group of formula —((CH₃)₃Si—O)₂—Si(CH3); R¹², R¹³, and R¹⁴ are independently chosen from a C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, polysiloxane, an alkoxy group of the formula OR¹⁵, where R¹⁵ is a C₁-C₁₀ alkyl group; and t is 4-30.
 39. The composition of claim 30, wherein the silylated carboxylic acid is of the formula:


40. A material obtained by curing the composition of claim
 30. 